Darryl Stingley
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article is about a recently deceased person. Some information, such as the circumstances of the person's death and surrounding events, may change rapidly as more facts become known. |
| Darryl Stingley | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | September 18, 1951 |
| Place of birth |  Chicago, Illinois |
| Date of death | April 5, 2007 (aged 55) |
| Place of death | Chicago, Illinois |
| Position(s) | WR |
| College | Purdue |
| NFL Draft | 1973 / Round 1/ Pick 19 |
| Statistics | |
| Team(s) | |
| 1973-1978 | New England Patriots |
Darryl Floyd Stingley (September 18, 1951 - April 5, 2007) was an American professional football wide receiver whose career was cut short by injury. He had a five-year career from 1973 to 1977. He played his entire career with the New England Patriots of the National Football League.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
He was born to mother Hilda M. Stingley and raised on Chicago's West Side. Stingley was a standout running back at John Marshall High School.[1] He was offered and accepted a football scholarship[2] to Purdue University, where he was converted into a wide receiver. He was a first-round draft pick of the New England Patriots in 1973[1], along with John Hannah of the University of Alabama and Sam Cunningham of the University of Southern California.
[edit] Injury
On August 12, 1978, in a pre-season game against the Oakland Raiders, Stingley was the victim of a hit by the Raiders' defensive back Jack Tatum. Stingley was running a risky cross pattern known for high injury rates. As Stingley leapt to make a catch, Tatum used his forearm in a head-on collision that knocked Stingley cold. The hit compressed Stingley's spinal cord, breaking his fourth and fifth vertebrae. Stingley eventually regained limited movement in his right arm, but spent the rest of his life as a quadriplegic.[3]. Adding the proverbial insult to injury, Stingley had just finished negotiating a contract extension that would have made him one of the highest paid receivers in the NFL. The new contract was to be announced when the Patriots returned from the West Coast. Instead, it was never signed.[4]
Although controversial, the hit was not a violation of NFL rules at the time. No penalty was called on the play.[5]
The incident became a symbol of violence in football. Stingley reportedly described it as a "freak accident".[6] Because Stingley was a young player at the height of his career, his horrific injuries attracted significant public attention. Partly in response to Stingley's injuries, the NFL changed its rules and conventions to curtail aggressive plays.[7] Stingley told the Chicago Tribune that he approved of more restrictive officiating, saying "It has opened the game up to allow receivers to get downfield. And it has made the game more exciting."[8].
Tatum's Coach, John Madden, and many of his teammates extended their sympathies to Stingley.[1] Madden's post-game rush to the hospital was the beginning of a close friendship.[1] Gene Upshaw, a Raiders' offensive guard, also befriended Stingley, and was later instrumental in securing benefits for disabled players through the NFL Players' Association.[1]
[edit] Post-football activities
Stingley and Tatum never reconciled.[9][10] Tatum contacted Stingley while writing his own autobiography and HBO invited both men to appear on the 25th anniversary of the accident. Stingley refused after he learned of the title of Tatum's book: Final Confessions of NFL Assassin Jack Tatum.[11] Stingley believed Tatum's efforts to contact him were nothing more than profit-motivated publicity stunts.[12]
Stingley later served as executive director of player personnel for the Patriots.[2] In 1983, Stingley co-authored a memoir, Happy to Be Alive, with Mark Mulvoy.[citation needed] In 1993, he started a non-profit organization to help troubled youths in west Chicago[1] Stingley raised three sons,[1] including Derek Stingley, who played defensive back for the Albany Firebirds in the Arena Football League[1]
[edit] Death
On April 5, 2007, Stingley died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago after being discovered unresponsive in his home. His death was attributed to heart disease and pneumonia complicated by quadriplegia.[11] The Cook County Medical Examiner listed Stingley's cause of death as an accident.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g Associated Press (2007-04-06). Darryl Stingley. Boston Herald. Retrieved on April 7, 2007.
- ^ a b Sophia Tureen (2007-04-06). Darryl Stingley dies at 55. Baltimore Sun. Retrieved on April 7, 2007.
- ^ Larry Schwartz (1978-08-12). Stingley paralyzed after being clocked by Tatum. ESPN Classic. Retrieved on April 5, 2007.
- ^ Ron Borges (2003-08-12). The Healer: No Sting of Bitterness. Boston Globe. Retrieved on April 5, 2007.
- ^ NFL rules and fact no penalty was called on play, 2nd to last Paragraph.
- ^ Ron Pollack. The Amazing Courage of Derek Stingley. Pro Football Weekly. Retrieved on April 5, 2007.
- ^ Gorner, Jeremy. "Paralyzed NFL player Darryl Stingley dead at 55", Los Angeles Times, 2007-04-05. Retrieved on April 7, 2007.
- ^ Jeremy Gorner (2007-04-05). Darryl Stingley Dead at 55. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved on April 5, 2007.
- ^ AP (2007-04-05). Former NFL player Stingley dies at 55. USA Today. Retrieved on April 5, 2007.
- ^ Jason Cole (2007-04-06). Sorrow not guilt. Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved on April 6, 2007.
- ^ a b Kreidler, Mark (April 5, 2007). Mourning Stingley, but the game goes on. ESPN.com. Retrieved on April 5, 2007.
- ^ Ex-Patriots WR Stingley dies at 55. ESPN.com (April 5, 2007). Retrieved on April 5, 2007.
